Container construction



March 14, 1961 E. MARTIN 2,974,826

CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION Filed May 28, 1958 1 t'\lli LL 5 LL L'LL W "W1\'.\g fm.. A w Amps MUUPWM.

EDWARD MARTIN ATT'YS United States Patent- CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION Edward Martin, Chicago, 111., assignor to Central Farm Equipment Company, Chicago, 11]., a partnership Filed May 28, 1958, Ser. No. 738,426

5 Claims. (Cl. 220-72) Another object of this invention is to enable novel barrels, and the like, to be constructed which embody rolling hoops or rings constituted and arranged in a novel and expeditious manner.

Barrels, and like containers, embodying rolling hoops or rings on which they could be rolled, have heretofore been known in the art. However, such barrels, and the like, as have been heretofore known have commonly had several inherent disadvantages such as, for example, being complicated in construction; being expensive to manufacture; not being adapted to be efliciently packed in sideby-side relation to each other; being so constructed that the rolling rings acted as spacers which prevented the barrels from being closely packed togetherpnot affording effective rolling rings, and the like. It is an important object of this invention to overcome such disadvantages.

Another object of my invention is to afford novel containers having rolling rings projecting outwardly from the sidewalls thereof in a novel manner whereby the containers may be readily packed in side-by-side relation to each other with the hoops of each container disposed in abutting engagement with the main body portion of the sidewalls of adjacent containers.

Yet another object of my invention is to afford a novel container of the aforementioned type having rolling rings constituted and arranged at an angle to each other in a novel and expeditious manner.

A further object is to provide a novel container of the aforementioned type which embodies rolling rings constituted and arranged in a manner whereby the container may be readily rolled straight or may be readily turned, as desired.

Another object of the present invention is to enable barrels, and the like, which are packed in side-by-side relation to each other, to be readily interlocked against endwise slipping relative to each other in a novel and expeditious manner.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show the preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof, and what 1 now, consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embod-intents of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes .may be made as desired by those skilled in them without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

1 In the drawings:

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2 embodying the principles of my invention, side-by-side relation to each other;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side. elevational view of one of the barrels shown in Fig. 1, with certain portions broken away to show underlying parts;

Fig. 3 is a partial side elevational view similar to Fig. 2, but taken in a direction approximately ninety degrees removed from the direction of the view shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the sidewall of the barrel shown in Fig. 2, with the sidewall laid out flat; and

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view similar to a portion of Fig. 2, but showing a modified form of my invention.

A barrel 1, which embodies the principles of my invention, is shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, of the drawings to illustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention. In fact, in Fig. 1, two of the barrels 1 are shown disposed in side-by-side relation to each other.

Each of the barrels 1, shown in the drawings, embodies in general a substantially cylindrical-shaped body portion or sidewall 2, on the opposite ends of which are mounted two end walls or heads 3 and 4. The body portion 2 and the heads 3 and 4 may be made of any suitable material such as, for example, steel, and are secured to each other by suitable means such as, for example, the customary reverse seams 5, Fig. 2. Suitable pouring openings and air vents may be provided in the customary manner such as a pouring opening and air vent in the head 3 and normally closed by plugs-6 and 7, respectively, Fig. 1.

Two rolling rings or hoops 8 and 9 are afforded on the body portion 2 of the barrel 1 in spaced relation to each other. The rings 8 and 9 are each continuous, and extend around the body portion 2 at an angle to each other and to the longitudinal axis of the body portion 2.- They are preferably identical in form, with each ring being uniplanar, and with the planes of the rings diverging outward-1y from each other at equal acute angles from a plane disposed half-way between the rings and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the barrel 1'.

I prefer to space the rings 8 and 9 of my novel container 1 a substantial distance apart, as shown in Fig. 2, to thereby afford a firm support for the barrel 1 when the latter is being rolled thereon. However, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the rings 8 and 9 may be disposed closer together without departing from the purview of my invention.

It will be remembered that the rings 8 and 9 diverge outwardly from each other,'with the plane of each ring disposed at an acute angle to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the barrel 1. Thus, each of the rings 8 and 9 diverge outwardly away from, and on opposite sides of,'a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the barrel 1 and extending through the radial center of the respective ring. Preferably, the angles at which each ring 8 and 9 project away from the last disposed in mentioned perpendicular plane is such that each ring is disposed from that plane a distance several-times the width of the respective ring. With this construction it will be seen that, when the barrels 1 are disposed in side-by-side relation to each other, as shown in Fig; 1, the rings 8 and 9 of each barrel may readily be placed in abutting relation to the outer face of the main bodyportion 2 of the adjacent barrel 1, rather than in abutting engagement with the corresponding ring of the adjacent barrel, as is customary in. barrels commonly heretofore used. In this way the body portions 2 of my, novel barrels 1 are only separated t'ronreach other a distance equal Fig. l is a perspective view of two identical barrels,

to the thickness of one of the rings 8hr 9, rather than a distance equal to the twice the thickness of the rolling rings as has been heretofore common.

p Also, with my novel barrel construction, it willbe seen that if, when the barrels 1 are initially placed inupright thereto.

especiallyquiek placing of the barrels 1 in side-by-side relation for normal storing purposes, wherein it is im- 7 material whether the barrels; are held against endwise side-by-side relation to each other, the rings 8 and 9 of one barrel should be disposed in horizontally abutting engagement with the corresponding rings 8 and 9 of the adjacent barrel, this 'may be readily remedied by'merely rotating one of the barrels a few degrees around its longi- 'tudinal axis to thereby move the adjacent portions of the adjacent rings 8 and .9 out of horizontal alignment with each other. The adjacent barrels 1 are thereby permitted to be moved into the -aforementioned desired :position relative to each other, wherein .the rings 8 and 9 of each barrel 1, are disposed in'abutting engagement with the outer face of the main body portion '2 of the adjacent barrel.

It will be seen that with the rings8 and 9so positioned on the barrels 1 they are each displaced from the aforementioned plane'ipassing through 'theradial center thereof a distance several times the width of the'respective ring, the barrels 1 maybe quickly and easily placed in the aforementioned desired-side-by side relation by workmen, and the like, because the barrels would rarely happen to be placed adjacent to eachother .in such position that the rings 8 and 9 of adjacent barrels abuttingly engage each other, and, in those rare instances where it did happen, the workmen can readily remedy the situation by merely rotating one of the barrels afewdegrees.

In addition, with my novel barrel construction, ad- ;jacent barrels 1 may be disposedin the aforementioned side-by-side relation with the rings 8 and9 'of the barrels 1 either vertically spaced from the rings 8 and 9, respec tively, of the adjacent barrelsl, or disposed in vertically overlying or underlying engagement therewith. When disposed in the latter position, the rings 8 and 9 of the adjacent barrels 1 afiord effective abutmentmembers for preventing'endwise movement of adjacent barrels relative to each other, when the latterhave been tied or banded together, as is common in the storing and transporting of a plurality of barrels. Thus, if desired, the adjacent barrels 1 may be so disposed relative to each other that the adjacent respective rings 8 and 9 are spaced from each other as shown in Fig. 1. On the other hand, if desired, one of the barrels could be rotated around its longitudinal axis through a partial turninto a position wherein the rings 8 and 9 thereof were disposed in vertically engaging relation to the rings 8 and 9, respectively, of the ad- .jacent' barrel. For example, if desired, the right hand barrel 1 shown in Fig. 1 could be'turned in a clockwise direction around its longitudinal axis into a position wherein the rings Sand 9 thereof were vertically engaged with the rings 8 and 9, respectively, of the left hand barrel 1. When so positioned, thering 80f one barrel would be disposed in overlying engagement with the ring 8 of the -ing endwise movement of the barrels 1 relative to each other, when the barrels are held in side-by-side abutting relation to each other.

It will be remembered that the rings 8 and 9 on each .barrel 1 preferably diverge on both'sides of the aforementioned plane through the radial center thereof a dis tance several times greater than the width of the respective rings 8;-and 9. However, although that is the construction I prefer to use, my invention is not limited I prefer such construction because it permits movement relative to each other, while still enabling the adjacent barrels to be readily adjusted into finterlocked position, wherein they areheld against cndwisemove- 'ment, ifithat is desired. a 7 a In any event, in the practice of my invention, the rings 8 and.9 of my novel barrel lwill be displaced on both fsid'esi fofjthe aforementioned plane through the radial cen- "terthereof' a distance s'ufliciently "great to permit the rings limitation, and the rings S and 9'may be otherwise afforded such as, for example, by welding separate rings, such as the ringlt), to the outer periphery of the body portion 11 of a'barrel I2,'as shown in Fig. 5, without depatting from the purview of my invention. It will be understood that the barrel 12, a fragmentary section of which is shown in Fig. 5 to illustrate a modified form of my invention, may embody the same construction as the barrel 1, except that the bodyportion 11 thereof would not have the rings'8 and 9 formed therein, and two rings 16 would be substituted therefor, with'the rings 10 positioned relative to each other and to the body portion 11 in the same manner as the rings 8 and 9 are positioned relative to each other and to the body portion 2.

The rolling rings 8 and 9 preferably extend outwardly from the body portion 2 beyond the sealing seams 5, and afiord supporting members 'on which the barrel 1 may be rolled when moving the barrel 1 from one location to another. With therings 8 and 9 disposed at an acute angle to each-other, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the barrel 1 may be readily rolled in a straight line. However, if it is desired to turn the barrel during the rolling thereof, this may be readily accomplished by slightly raising the end of the barrel opposite to the ring '8 or 9 which is advancing in the general direction which it is desired to make the turn.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the barrel of thy invention may be readily and economically produced commercially and afiord rolling hoops which, while .afiording efiective rolling hoops or rings, are so disposed on the body portion 2 that the adjacent barrel disposed in side-by-side relation may be quickly and easily adjusted into position wherein the'rollingrings 8 and 9 of adjacent barrels are disposed in abutting engagement with the outer face of the body portion 2. V

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have afiorded a novel container embodying rolling hoopsor rings constituted and arranged 'in a novel and expeditious manner.

Also, I have afiorded a novelcontainer construction, embodying rolling rings, wherein the container may be quickly and easily disposed in closely adjacent side-byside relation toeach other in a novel and expeditious man ner.

In addition, I have afforded such a container that may be readily rolled straight on the rolling hoops thereof.

Also, I have afiorded such a container that is practical and efiicient in construction, and may bereadily and economically produced commercially.

. Thus, while I have'i-llustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fallwithin the purview of the following claims. i 7 iclaimz' it g l. in a container embodying a substantially cylindricalshaped body portion, two uniplanar rolling hoops extending around the periphery of said body portion in spaced relation to each other, the planes of said hoops being disposed at anlacute angle toye'ach other and diverging outwardly in opposite'directions. from the plane bisecting said acute angle, said last mentioned plane being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said body portion.

2. The combination as defined in claim I, and in which said hoops are integral with said body portion. I

3. The combination as defined in claim 1, and in which said hoops are attached to said body portion.

4. In a container, a substantially straight elongated tubular-shaped body portion, and two unipl'anar rolling hoops extending around said body portion at such an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of said body portion that each of said hoops is displaced on opposite sides of a respective plane passing through the radial center of said hoops perpendicular to said axis a distance greater than one-half the thickness of said hoops measured parallel to said axis, and said hoops being spaced from each other longitudinally of said body portion and disposed at an acute angle to each other.

5. In a container, a cylindrical-shaped body portion having oppositely disposed ends disposed perpendicular 15 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS James June 23, 1896 2,812,099 Eaugan Nov. 5, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 457,464 Germany Ian. 24, 1926 496,613 Belgium Oct. 16, 1950 

